APPENDIX 3: CALL FOR EVIDENCE
The foreign policy, defence and development Sub-Committee
(Sub-Committee C) of the House of Lords Select Committee on the
European Union has decided to undertake an inquiry into "The
European Union and the Middle East Peace Process". The Sub-Committee
is chaired by Lord Roper.
Achieving a lasting settlement to the Arab-Israeli
conflict in the Middle East has for many years been a priority
of the United Kingdom Government and of the European Union. Since
the second Intifada started in 2000, the conflict has deepened
and has led to significant loss of life, suffering and hardship
on all sides. Recent events, including the war in Lebanon during
the summer of 2006, have heightened tensions and led to renewed
international attention to find a way out of the current impasse.
The European Union plays a significant role in the
context of the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) as a member of
the international Quartet (UN, USA, Russia, EU), as a major funder
and through its operational missions. The Sub-Committee therefore
believes the time is right for an inquiry into the EU's role.
The purpose of the Sub-Committee's inquiry will be to ascertain:
- What role the EU currently plays in the context
of the Middle East Peace Process
- Whether the EU's policies, diplomatic initiatives,
and financial and operational instruments are effective and coherent
- How the EU's policies could be improved, and
what initiatives the EU could now take, on its own and in conjunction
with its partners, to take a new process forward.
In the framework of this inquiry, the Sub-Committee
will consider written evidence. The Sub-Committee would therefore
welcome submissions on following questions:
(1) What should be the objectives of EU policy
in the Middle East Peace Process?
(2) How effective have the EU's relations and
activities been in supporting the Peace Process and in influencing
the actors in the region, in comparison with the bilateral relations
of individual Member States? To what extent are the roles of the
EU and the Member States complementary?
(3) What is your assessment of the effectiveness
of existing instruments in achieving EU objectives? What other
instruments, if any, does the EU need to be effective in the Middle
East Peace Process? How could the available instruments be used
more effectively to achieve these objectives? Are the EU's policies
and instruments coherent?
(4) How successfully has the EU operated in the
framework of the Quartet, and with its individual members, especially
the United States? How effective is the EU participation in the
political process, given the constraints on dialogue with and
amongst key parties in the region?
(5) What is your assessment of the EU's policy
towards the states and international organisations in the region
which have an influence or role in the MEPP? What more could the
EU do?
(6) How well adapted are the European Neighbourhood
Policy (ENP) and the Euro-Mediterranean (Euromed) Partnership
to supporting the EU's policies on the MEPP?
(7) What contribution have EU operational missions
(e.g. EU COPPS, EUBAM Rafah, election observation missions) made
to achieving EU objectives and advancing the Peace Process?"
(8) What roles have the EU High Representative
(HR) and the EU Special Representative (EUSR) for the Middle East
Peace Process played, and how effective have they been in representing
the EU's position?
(9) What steps can the EU now take, including
economic steps, to assist a return to and implementation of the
Peace Process in the short and medium term? How far should the
Peace Process be renewed or should we move to the final status
negotiations?
GUIDANCE TO THOSE SUBMITTING WRITTEN EVIDENCE
Written evidence is invited in response to the questions
above, to arrive by no later than Monday 5 March 2007.
This inquiry naturally deals with a very broad range
of topics and it is preferable for individual submissions to deal
with a limited number of these. Evidence should be kept as short
as possible: submissions of not more than approx. five sides of
A4 paper of free-standing text, excluding any supporting annexes,
are preferred. Paragraphs should be numbered.
Evidence should be sent in hard copy and electronically
to the addresses below.
Evidence should be attributed, dated and signed,
and include a note stating the author's name and position. Please
also state whether evidence is submitted on an individual or corporate
basis. Please note that material which is submitted to the Sub-Committee
having already been published or circulated elsewhere cannot be
treated as evidence, but may be circulated to the Sub-Committee
and referred to in the Report.
Evidence becomes the property of the Sub-Committee,
and may be printed or circulated by the Sub-Committee at any stage.
You may publicise or publish your evidence yourself, but in doing
so you must indicate that it was prepared for the Sub-Committee.
Submissions will be acknowledged. Any enquiries should
be addressed to: Kathryn Colvin, Clerk to the Sub-Committee on
EU foreign affairs, defence and development policy, Committee
Office, House of Lords, London SW1A 0PW; telephone: 020 7219 6099;
fax: 020 7219 6715; e-mail: colvink@parliament.uk
This is a public call for evidence. You are encouraged
to bring it to the attention of other groups and individuals who
may not have received a copy directly.
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